United States · United States Congress · 21 October 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Managed Competition in Employer-Based Health Plans: Incentives to Control Costs Subtitle A: Use of Tax Incentives to Purchase Cost-Effective Plans Subtitle B: Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives (HPPCs) Subtitle C: Accountable Health Plans (AHPs) Subtitle D: National Health Board Subtitle E: Managed Competition in Rural and Urban Underserved Areas Subtitle F: Treatment of Chronically Underserved Areas Subtitle G: Repeal of COBRA Continuation Requirements Subtitle H: Definitions Title II: Low-Income Assistance for Health Coverage Subtitle A: Low-Income Assistance Subtitle B: Long-Term Care Phase-Down Assistance to States Subtitle C: Financing Subtitle D: Repeal of Medicaid Program Title III: Training and Education of Health Care Professionals Subtitle A: Reform of Federal Funding for Medical Residency Training Subtitle B: Other Medical Education Grants and Programs Title IV: Preventive Health and Individual Responsibility Subtitle A: Expansion of Public Health Programs Subtitle B: Medicare Title V: Malpractice Reform Subtitle A: Findings; Purpose; Definitions Subtitle B: Grants to States for Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems Subtitle C: Uniform Standards for Malpractice Claims Subtitle D: Grants to States for Development of Practice Guidelines Title VI: Paperwork Reduction and Administrative Simplification Managed Competition Act of 1993 - Title I: Managed Competition in Employer-Based Health Plans: Incentives to Control Costs - Subtitle A: Use of Tax Incentives to Purchase Cost-Effective Plans - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on the excess health plan expenses of any employer which are health plan expenses exceeding specific limits under an accountable health plan for a defined geographical area. (Sec. 1002) Increases to 100 percent and makes permanent the deduction for health plan premium expenses of self-employed individuals. (Sec. 1003) Permits the deduction for medical, dental, etc. expenses without regard to the limitation on such deduction with respect to amounts paid for premiums under an accountable health plan. (Sec. 1004) Provides for the exclusion from gross income of contributions by a partnership or S corporation to a health plan covering partners or shareholders. Subtitle B: Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives (HPPCs) - Provides for the establishment of Health Plan Purchasing Cooperatives (HPPCs). Considers each State to be a HPPC, except that a State may subdivide into HPPC areas, and that there may be interstate HPPCs, as specified. Requires HPPCs to enter into agreements with accountable health plans and small employers, offer enrollment in accountable health plans, and charge premiums. Subtitle C: Accountable Health Plans (AHPs) - Directs the National Health Board to provide a process whereby a health plan may be registered with the Board by its sponsor as an accountable health plan. Sets forth requirements for a plan to be registered, including: (1) coverage for a specified uniform set of benefits, including cost-sharing for low-income individuals; (2) standard premiums for the uniform benefits; (3) grievance procedures; (4) collecting and providing specified information; (5) prohibiting discrimination in enrollment or benefits; and (6) financial solvency. (Sec. 1208) Sets forth additional requirements for open AHPs, which is any plan which is not closed. Defines a closed plan as one limited by structure or law to one or more large employers. (Sec. 1211) Requires each AHP to provide for payment of one percent of gross premium receipts to the National Medical Education Fund. (Sec. 1221) Sets forth provisions concerning the preemption of State laws for AHPs. (Sec. 1231) Directs the President to provide for the development and publication of guidelines on the application of Federal antitrust laws to AHPs. Subtitle D: National Health Board - Establishes, as an independent agency in the Executive Branch, a National Health Board (the Board). Requires the Board to transmit annually to the Congress recommendations for the uniform set of effective benefits. States that such recommendations shall apply unless the Congress passes a joint resolution of disapproval. (Sec. 1303) Directs the Board to provide for the initial organization, as a nonprofit corporation in the District of Columbia, of the Benefits, Evaluations, and Data Standards Board in order to make recommendations to the Board concerning the uniform set of effective benefits and matters related to the evaluation of health care services. (Sec. 1304) Directs the Board to provide for the initial organization, as a nonprofit organization, of the Health Plan Standards Board in order to make recommendations to the Board concerning the standards for AHPs and concerning its assessment of risk-adjustment factors. (Sec. 1305) Sets forth provisions concerning the registration of AHPs. (Sec. 1306) Directs the Board to establish rules for the process of risk-adjustment of premiums among AHPs by HPPCs. (Sec. 1307) Directs the Board to establish standards for the periodic provision by AHPs of standardized information. (Sec. 1309) Establishes, within the Department of Health and Human Services, the Agency for Clinical Evaluations which shall assume the responsibilities of the Director of the Office of Medical Applications of Research at the National Institutes of Health, the Director of the Office of Research and Demonstrations of the Health Care Financing Administration (insofar as such responsibilities relate to clinical evaluations), the Administrator for Health Care Policy and Research under title IX of the Public Health Service Act and specified provisions of the Social Security Act, and the Director of the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as other specified responsibilities. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 1312) Authorizes appropriations for the Board through FY 2000. Terminates the Board on December 31, 1999. Subtitle E: Managed Competition in Rural and Urban Underserved Areas - Authorizes the Governor of any State to designate rural and urban areas of a State as underserved areas. Permits a HPPC serving such an area to require AHPs offered by the HPPC and with a service area adjoining such area to include the area as part of their service area. (Sec. 1411) Authorizes appropriations for: (1) technical assistance for entities seeking to establish a network plan in an underserved area; (2) financial assistance to eligible entities in order to provide for the development and implementation of AHPs in rural areas; and (3) under the Public Health Service Act, migrant health centers and community health centers. (Sec. 1422) Provides coverage under part B of title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act for rural emergency access care hospital services. (Sec. 1431) Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make payments for transitional assistance to eligible hospitals. Requires any hospital accepting such assistance to provide a significant volume of services to persons unable to pay for services. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle F: Treatment of Chronically Underserved Areas - Directs the National Health Board to develop standards for the identification of chronically underserved areas. Makes provisions for addressing health care delivery in such areas. Subtitle G: Repeal of COBRA Continuation Requirements - Repeals the COBRA continuation requirements for group health plans and title XXII of the Public Health Service Act. Subtitle H: Definitions - Sets forth definitions for this title and title II. Title II: Low-Income Assistance for Health Coverage - Subtitle A: Low-Income Assistance - Provides premium assistance for very-low income individuals and moderately low-income individuals. Provides for nominal cost-sharing for such individuals and special assistance for certain items and services. Subtitle B: Long-Term Care Phase-Down Assistance to States - Provides for long-term care phase-down assistance to eligible States for each calendar quarter in 1995 through 1998. Subtitle C: Financing - Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to achieve savings under such program by: (1) reducing the update for inpatient hospital services; (2) reducing the conversion factor for the physician fee schedule for non-primary care services; and (3) reducing hospital outpatient services through establishing a prospective payment system. (Sec. 2204) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a Medicare part B premium tax on higher-income individuals. (Sec. 2205) Achieves additional Medicare savings through the: (1) phased-in elimination of Medicare disproportionate share adjustment payments; (2) reduction of routine cost limits for home health services; (3) reduction in routine cost limits for extended care services; and (4) reductions in payments for hospice services. Subtitle D: Repeal of Medicaid Program - Repeals title XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act. Title III: Training and Education of Health Care Professionals - Subtitle A: Reform of Federal Funding for Medical Residency Training - Directs the National Health Board to approve a resident training position in a medical residency program for purposes of funding approved medical residency training programs under this title. Provides funding, in addition, for physician retraining. Sets forth provisions concerning: (1) the allocation of entry positions among programs; and (2) the general distribution of positions among specialties. (Sec. 3004) Requires payment by AHPs of one percent of gross premium receipts to the National Medical Education Fund. Requires payments from the Medicare trust funds to the National Medical Education Fund. (Sec. 3005) Establishes the National Medical Education Fund. Subtitle B: Other Medical Education Grants and Programs - Authorizes appropriations under the Public Health Service Act for medical education programs, including: (1) the scholarship and loan repayment programs of the National Health Service Corps; (2) area education centers; (3) public health and preventive medicine; (4) family medicine; (5) general internal medicine and pediatrics; (6) physician assistants; (7) allied health projects grants and contracts; and (8) nurse practitioner and nurse midwife programs. Title IV: Preventive Health and Individual Responsibility - Subtitle A: Expansion of Public Health Programs - Authorizes appropriations under the Public Health Service Act for the following public health programs: (1) immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases; (2) prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis; (3) lead poisoning prevention; (4) preventive health measures with respect to breast and cervical cancers; (5) the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; (6) the Office of Minority Health; (7) preventive health and health services block grant; (8) categorical grants for early intervention regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and (9) programs of the Centers for Disease Control regarding the smoking of tobacco products. Directs the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion to promote individual responsibility in personal health care and in the use of valuable health care resources. Subtitle B: Medicare - Provides Medicare coverage for: (1) screening fecal-occult blood tests and screening flexible sigmoidoscopies for the purpose of the early detection of cancer; (2) tetanus-diphtheria boosters; (3) well-child services; and (4) an annual screening mammography for women over age 64. Title V: Malpractice Reform - Subtitle A: Findings; Purpose; Definitions - Sets forth the findings, purpose, and definitions for this title. Subtitle B: Grants to States for Alternative Dispute Resolution Systems - Provides for grants for a two year period to States for the implementation and evaluation of alternative dispute resolution systems. Subtitle C: Uniform Standards for Malpractice Claims - Makes the provisions of this subtitle applicable to any medical malpractice liability action brought in a Federal or State court, and to any malpractice claim subject to alternative dispute resolution. (Sec. 5202) Establishes the United States Commission on Malpractice Awards which shall promulgate guidelines relating to limits on noneconomic and punitive damages. (Sec. 5205) Makes special provision for obstetric services. (Sec. 5206) Permits a finding of malpractice only if the defendant's conduct was unreasonable. Subtitle D: Grants to States for Development of Practice Guidelines - Directs the Secretary to make grants to States for the development of medical practice guidelines for health care professionals that may be applied to resolve medical malpractice liability claims. Title VI: Paperwork Reduction and Administrative Simplification - Preempts State quill pen laws. Ensures the confidential treatment of electronic health care information. Sets forth provisions which provide for: (1) the standardization of electronic health information; (2) uniform claims forms; (3) the liability of insurers when benefits are payable under two or more plans; and (4) the uniformity of the availability of information among health plans when benefits are payable under two or more plans. (Sec. 6007) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose a tax on a health plan not in compliance with specified requirements of this title.
United States · United States Congress · 19 October 1993
Rent-To-Own Consumer Credit Protection Act of 1993 - Amends the Consumer Credit Protection Act to prohibit a seller in a rent-to-own transaction from taking, receiving, or assessing any interest, finance charge, or other fee for the transaction in excess of that which may be charged under State law which establishes in connection with a credit or retail installment sale for the same or a similar item: (1) a maximum rate or amount of interest, finance charge, or time-price differential that may be charged; (2) the types and maximum amount of fees that a seller may charge; or (3) the types of credit insurance and the maximum amount of premiums that can be charged for credit insurance. Sets forth requirements regarding: (1) termination, recovery, and other fees; (2) the effect of termination; and (3) guarantees and warranties. Makes the following Federal laws applicable to rent-to-own transactions: (1) the Truth in Lending Act; (2) the Equal Credit Opportunity Act; (3) the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act; and (4) the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Requires a seller to include the following information on each item in the seller's place of business that is available for purchase pursuant to a rent-to-own transaction: (1) the cash price; (2) an itemization of services offered and the price of each service; (3) the annual percentage rate; (4) any applicable periodic payment and the number of payments; (5) the total number of payments required to acquire ownership; and (6) whether the item is new or used. Requires a seller to provide such information to a consumer in writing at the time the parties enter into the contract. Prohibits a seller under a rent-to-own contract with a consumer from taking specified actions, such as using threats or coercion to collect amounts alleged due, or unreasonably disclosing information to third parties regarding amounts owed by the consumer. Makes compliance with the requirements of this Act enforceable by the Federal Trade Commission. Deems a violation of this Act to be an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. Subjects sellers who violate the requirements of this Act to civil liability.
United States · United States Congress · 18 October 1993
Requires the Federal Communications Commission to prescribe a regulation requiring each commercial television broadcast station licensee and cable operator to: (1) maintain a copy of any commercial or program promotion for 30 days following its broadcast or transmission; (2) provide to any person, upon timely request, a video copy of any commercial or program promotion, subject to the payment of a reasonable charge for the cost of duplication; (3) maintain a copy of each complaint it receives regarding violent commercials or program promotions for a 12-month period, including any video which contains the subject of such complaint; (4) compile and maintain a record of each such complaint and the number of them received during the preceding 12 months; and (5) make a copy of such compiled material available, upon a written request, to the public.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1993
Designates December 7, 1993, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Requests the President to urge that the U.S. flag be flown at half staff on December 7, 1993, in honor of the individuals who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.
United States · United States Congress · 5 October 1993
Calls for: (1) the President to encourage the United Nations (UN) to permit representatives of Taiwan to participate fully in UN activities; and (2) cabinet-level exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.
United States · United States Congress · 14 September 1993
General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to set forth a 15-year statute of limitations within which a person may bring a civil action against an aircraft manufacturer for damages for death or injury or damage to property arising from an aircraft accident.
United States · United States Congress · 10 September 1993
Radio Consumer Information Act of 1993 - Amends the Consumer Leasing Act of 1976, the Truth in Lending Act of 1968, and the Truth in Savings Act of 1991 regarding disclosures in connection with advertisements, announcements, or solicitations made through radio.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Plant Variety Protection Act to revise definitions and establish rules of construction concerning: (1) the sale and disposition of harvesting material, varieties, and hybrid seeds; (2) the filing of applications for the protection or entering of a variety in an official register; and (3) the basis of determining the distinctness of a variety or whether a variety is publicly known. Entitles breeders of sexually reproduced plant varieties (other than fungi or bacteria) (currently, other than fungi, bacteria, or first generation hybrids) who have reproduced a variety to plant variety protection if the variety is new, distinct, uniform, and stable. Provides that if two or more applicants for plant variety protection submit applications on the same filing date for indistinguishable varieties that fulfill the conditions for protection established by this Act, the applicant who first complies with this Act's requirements shall be entitled to protection to the exclusion of any other applicant. Issues a single protection certificate jointly to two or more applicants who comply with requirements on the same date for varieties that are indistinguishable. Lengthens the term of plant variety protection from 18 to 20 years from the date of issuance of the protection certificate (25 years for trees or vines). Adds the following activities to the list of actions which constitute infringement of an owner's right to plant variety protection if performed without an owner's authorization: (1) conditioning the variety for purposes of propagation; and (2) stocking the variety for any existing purpose which constitutes infringement. Permits owners to authorize the use of a variety subject to their own limitations. Provides that it shall not be an infringement of an owner's rights to perform any act: (1) concerning propagating material of a protected variety that has been marketed in the United States unless the act involves further propagation of the variety or involves an export into a country that does not protect such varieties of the plant genus or species (unless the export is for final consumption); or (2) done privately and for noncommercial purposes. Removes a provision that declares that it is not an infringement for a person whose primary farming occupation is the growing of crops for sale other than reproductive purposes to sell saved seed for reproductive purposes.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality Reauthorization Act of 1993 - Amends the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality Act of 1986 to: (1) reauthorize and extend the National Commission to Prevent Infant Mortality (Commission); and (2) make changes regarding Commission duties, powers, and staff.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
USDA National Appeals Division Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) to establish and maintain a National Appeals Division within the Office of the Secretary to hear appeals of adverse decisions made by certain agencies within the Department of Agriculture. Requires the Secretary to develop a subject-matter index of all significant final determinations and make such index available to the public. Sets forth administrative appeal and transfer provisions. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
Increases from $200 to $500 the monthly special pension payable to persons named to the Medal of Honor Roll. Includes losses sustained on the resale of property in the net-value calculation for purposes of provisions regarding defaults on veterans' loans. Provides for a permanent extension of the authority of such provisions.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
Church Retirement Benefits Simplification Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to recodify and revise qualifications for church retirement and pension plans. Makes employee contributions to such plans nonforfeitable. Requires the plan to meet minimum vesting requirements. Recodifies the authority of a church or a convention or association of churches to be treated as an employer making contributions to retirement income accounts. Subjects church-related hospitals and universities to certain coverage and related rules in the case of a contract purchased by a church. Requires distributions from retirement income accounts provided by churches to be in accordance with distributions under cash or deferred arrangements. Provides for determining the beginning date for such distributions. Allows self-employed ministers and chaplains who work for non-church employers to participate in their church plans. Provides that certain rules aggregating employees do not apply to churches. Restores qualified voluntary employee contributions to church plans. Treats self-employed ministers as employees for purposes of certain welfare benefit plans and retirement income accounts. Allows a deduction for contributions to retirement income accounts by such ministers. Provides that a church plan maintained by more than one employer shall not be treated as a single plan. Provides that accounting methods of deferred compensation plans of State and local governments and tax-exempt organizations do not apply to a church plan. Exempts a church plan from the requirement to maintain separate accounts for medical benefits for key employees. Provides that the special rules for computing employee contributions to pension plans do not apply to certain foreign missionaries. Repeals the elective deferral catch-up limitation for church retirement income accounts. Allows church plans to annuitize benefits and increase benefit payments. Provides that rules for self-insured medical reimbursement plans are not applicable to church plans. Provides that retirement benefits of ministers are not subject to the tax on net earnings from self-employment.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the accounting standards proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board will have grave economic consequences, particularly for businesses in new-growth sectors, which rely heavily on entrepreneurship; and (2) the Board should not change the current accounting rules by requiring that businesses deduct the value of stock options from profits.
United States · United States Congress · 6 August 1993
Requests the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to publish, within one year, proposed amended regulations that specify the components of an adequate operator training program and that provide that only trained employees be authorized to operate powered industrial trucks.
United States · United States Congress · 5 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: School-to-Work Opportunities Basic Program Components Title II: School-to-Work Opportunities System Development and Implementation Grants to States Subtitle A: State Development Grants Subtitle B: State Implementation Grants Title III: Federal Implementation Grants to Partnerships Title IV: National Programs Title V: General Provisions School-of-Work Opportunities Act of 1993 - Establishes a national framework for development of School-to-Work Opportunities systems in all States. Declares the congressional intent that the Secretaries of Education and of Labor jointly administer this Act in a flexible manner. Directs the Secretaries to jointly administer the programs established by this Act. Title I: School-to-Work Opportunities Basic Program Components - Requires School-to-Work Opportunities (SWO) programs to: (1) integrate work-based and school-based learning; (2) provide students with the opportunity to complete career majors; and (3) incorporate specified program components including work-based and school-based learning and connecting activities. Title II: School-to-Work Opportunities System Development and Implementation Grants to States - Subtitle A: State Development Grants - Authorizes the Secretaries to award development grants to applicant States to complete development of a comprehensive, statewide SWO system. (Such development may have begun with funds awarded under the Job Training Partnership Act and the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act.) Subtitle B: State Implementation Grants - Allows States to apply to the Secretaries for competitive implementation grants, with applications containing: (1) plans for comprehensive, statewide SWO systems meeting content requirements; (2) descriptions of how funds will be allocated to local SWO partnerships; and (3) optional requests for waivers of certain statutory or regulatory requirements. Title III: Federal Implementation Grants to Partnerships - Authorizes the Secretaries to award competitive SWO implementation grants to partnerships in States that have not received State implementation grants. Authorizes the Secretaries to award grants to implement SWO programs in high poverty areas. (Such funds may be awarded in combination with funds appropriated for the Youth Fair Chance Program.) Title IV: National Program - Directs the Secretaries to provide for: (1) research, demonstration, and other projects; (2) performance outcomes and evaluation, in collaboration with States; and (3) training and technical assistance. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth provisions relating to: (1) State requests and responsibilities for waivers of statutory and regulatory requirements; (2) such waivers by each of the Secretaries; (3) program safeguards, including nondisplacement of current workers; and (4) acceptance of gifts. Authorizes appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 3 August 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Food Safety and Inspection Agency Title II: Transfer of Food Safety and Inspection Functions Title III: Commission on Food Safety and Inspection Title IV: General Provisions Food Safety and Inspection Agency Act of 1993 - Title I: Food Safety and Inspection Agency - Establishes the Food Safety and Inspection Agency (Agency), which shall include a Bureau of Food Safety and Inspection Statistics. Title II: Transfer of Food Safety and Inspection Functions - Transfers to the Agency specified functions relating to food safety and inspection carried out by the Secretaries of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Commerce, and the Interior. Title III: Commission on Food Safety and Inspection - Establishes a Commission on Food Safety and Inspection which shall develop a uniform system of risk-based food safety and inspection. Title IV: General Provisions - Sets forth reporting requirements and authorizations of appropriations.
United States · United States Congress · 30 July 1993
Directs the President to: (1) investigate and report to the Congress on the whereabouts of U.S. citizens and others who have been missing from Cyprus since 1974; and (2) do everything possible to return such persons (including remains of those no longer alive) to their families.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1993
Breast and Cervical Cancer Information Act of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require certain entities to: (1) provide information (in a culturally competent manner) concerning breast and cervical cancer, including information on the need and skills for breast self-examinations; and (2) refer clients for breast and cervical cancer screening, treatment, or other services. Includes in those entities entities that are recipients of financial assistance under provisions relating to: (1) migrant and community health centers; (2) health services for the homeless; (3) certain alcohol or drug treatment entities or mental health entities; (4) family planning projects; (5) human immunodeficiency virus health care services; (6) sexually transmitted disease clinics; (7) health services for residents of public housing; (8) non-Federal entities authorized under the Indian Self-Determination Act; and (9) tuberculosis clinics.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1993
Primary Care Workforce Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a national policy respecting the number of positions in each State in each approved medical residency training program of the different medical specialties conducted in the State. Limits the total number of entry positions. Prohibits the national policy allowing nonprimary care residents to exceed 50 percent of the total number of medical residents in a State. Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide medical education support only if programs are in compliance with the national policy. Establishes the National Health Professional Workforce Advisory Board to make recommendations regarding the national policy. Provides, under the Medicare program, for graduate medical education payments to non-hospital providers operating residency training programs. Increases the authorization of appropriations under the Public Health Service Act for the scholarship program and the loan repayment program. Establishes a program to retrain specialist physicians in primary care. Establishes a commission to study requiring students attending health professions schools pursuant to Federal assistance (for either the student or school) to complete a period of providing service to medically underserved individuals.
United States · United States Congress · 29 July 1993
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend, through December 31, 1994, the duty on mercury recycling crushers and distillers.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1993
National Aquaculture Development, Commercialization, and Promotion Act of 1993 - Amends the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to establish the Department of Agriculture as the lead Federal agency for the development of national policy and programs for private aquaculture. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) establish within the National Agricultural Library a National Aquaculture Information Center; (2) assign new aquaculture programs to the appropriate Federal agencies; and (3) use specified funds for aquaculture development, research and marketing, and export promotion programs. (Sec. 7) Authorizes the Secretary to pay the Federal share of grants and contracts for aquaculture commercialization research. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to: (1) implement a national policy for private aquaculture; (2) implement a Department Aquaculture Plan; (3) revise the National Aquaculture Development Plan; and (4) treat private aquaculture as a form of agriculture. (Sec. 9) Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out grant and cooperative agreement programs to demonstrate aquaculture's application to environmental enhancement, including a pollution assessment program. (Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out grant and cooperative agreement programs for Native American fishpond revitalization. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to provide disaster assistance to eligible aquaculture farmers for weather-related losses. (Secs. 12 and 13) Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) establish aquaculture education programs in secondary and postsecondary vocational schools; and (2) support international aquaculture scientific exchanges. (Sec. 14) Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 15) Amends the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make aquaculture farmers eligible for farm credit assistance. (Sec. 16) Amends the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 to direct the Administrator of the Foreign Agricultural Service to establish an international aquaculture information and data collection program. (Sec. 17) Amends the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to make aquaculture farms eligible for the emergency conservation program.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Title II: Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 Title III: Other Acts Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1993 - Title I: Rehabilitation Act of 1973 - Amends the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to make technical and conforming amendments to it and to the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1992. Title II: Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 - Education of the Deaf Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Education of the Deaf Act of 1986 to make technical and conforming amendments. Title III: Other Acts - Amends the Wagner-O'Day Act to rename a committee as one for purchase from people who are blind or severely disabled. Amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to make a technical and conforming amendment.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: General Provisions Title II: Federal Assistance for Priority Area Activities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Title III: Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights Title IV: University Affiliated Programs Title V: Projects of National Significance Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act Amendments of 1993 - Title I: General Provisions - Amends the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act to repeal provisions regarding: (1) the Federal share of projects for persons with developmental disabilities; and (2) Federal recovery of funds for facilities which are sold or cease to be facilities for persons with developmental disabilities. (Sec. 108) Revises reporting requirements. Title II: Federal Assistance for Priority Area Activities for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities - Revises State plan requirements to require plans to: (1) provide for a State Developmental Disabilities Council; (2) contain a comprehensive review and analysis of the extent to which services and supports are available to individuals with such disabilities and their families; and (3) provide specified objectives and assurances with respect to use of funds, financial participation, conflicts of interest, a poverty areas, program standards, individualized services, human rights, minority participation, intermediate care facilities for the mentally retarded reports, volunteers, employee protections, and staff assignments. (Sec. 204) Repeals habilitation plan provisions. (Sec. 205) Replaces provisions concerning State Planning Councils with provisions requiring States to establish State Developmental Disabilities Councils in order to receive Federal assistance. Requires a Council to: (1) serve as an advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities and conduct programs to carry out the purposes of this Act; (2) examine the need for Federal and State priority areas to address assistance for such individuals; (3) develop and implement the State plan by supporting the Federal priority area of employment and other priority areas through systemic change, capacity building, and specified advocacy activities; (4) review the appropriateness of the State agency designated to support the Council; and (5) prepare reports, approve and implement budgets, and carry out staff hiring and assignments. Sets forth provisions concerning State agencies designated to support the Councils. (Sec. 206) Revises provisions concerning State allotments, including allotment formulas for assistance to U.S. territories and States. (Sec. 207) Prohibits the Federal share of all projects in a State supported by an allotment from exceeding 75 percent of the aggregate costs of such projects or 90 and 100 percent, respectively, for projects targeting individuals with developmental disabilities who live in poverty areas and projects to implement State plan priority activities. (Sec. 212) Extends the authorization of appropriations for allotments through FY 1996. (Sec. 213) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to study and report to specified congressional committees on: (1) the allotment formula in effect prior to this Act's enactment to determine whether the formula is consistent with the purposes of this Act; and (2) alternative formulas for allocating funds. Title III: Protection and Advocacy of Individual Rights - Makes technical amendments to provisions concerning State systems to protect the rights of individuals with developmental disabilities. Expands the list of system requirements to include requirements that a system: (1) have access to any resident who has a developmental disability in a facility that is providing assistance to such resident; (2) hire and maintain sufficient numbers and types of staff to carry out the system's functions, except that such State shall not apply hiring freezes, reductions in force, or other policies that negatively affect the provision of staff support to the system or restrict travel to training and technical assistance activities; and (3) have the authority to educate policymakers. Revises allotment formulas. Requires the Secretary, in any case in which amounts appropriated for a fiscal year exceed $24.5 million, to: (1) use up to two percent to provide technical assistance to eligible systems; and (2) provide grants to American Indian Consortiums to provide protection and advocacy services. Directs the Secretary to provide advance public notice of any Federal programmatic and administrative review and solicit public comment on the system through such notice. (Sec. 143) Extends the authorization of appropriations for allotments for systems through FY 1996. Title IV: University Affiliated Programs - Revises provisions concerning the purpose and scope of university affiliated programs (UAPs) for individuals with developmental disabilities. (Sec. 403) Limits grants for UAPs to a period of five years. Revises provisions concerning grants for training personnel. Sets forth requirements for training projects in the following areas of national significance: (1) early intervention; (2) aging; (3) community services; (4) positive behavioral supports; (5) assistive technology services; and (6) the Americans with Disabilities Act. (Sec. 404) Revises provisions concerning application requirements for such grants. Includes individuals with developmental disabilities within the membership of consumer advisory committees required to be established under UAPs. Limits the Federal share of projects to 75 percent of the total cost (90 percent for projects which target individuals in poverty areas). (Sec. 405) Establishes priorities for the awarding of grants, with first priority to be given to existing State UAPs. (Sec. 406) Extends the authorization of appropriations for grants through FY 1996. Limits the amount of funds to be used for peer review. Title V: Projects of National Significance - Requires the Secretary to make grants to, and enter into contracts with, public or nonprofit private entities for projects of national significance relating to individuals with developmental disabilities to: (1) support ongoing data collection; and (2) provide technical assistance that expands or improves the effectiveness of State Developmental Disabilities Councils, protection and advocacy programs, and UAPs. Authorizes the Secretary to make such grants and contracts to conduct other nationally significant initiatives that hold promise of improving opportunities for such individuals. Provides for a special initiative to investigate the expansion of Council activities to individuals with severe disabilities other than developmental disabilities. (Sec. 504) Extends the authorization of appropriations for such projects through FY 1996.
United States · United States Congress · 23 July 1993
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Grants to States Title II: Programs of National Significance Technology-Related Assistance Act Amendments of 1993 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 (the Act) to authorize and revise the Act and its programs of grants to States and programs of national significance. Requires as a matter of U.S. policy: (1) full participation of the individuals assisted; (2) support for involvement of their parents, family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives; and (3) support for individual and systemic advocacy and community involvement. Title I: Grants to States - (Sec. 101) Requires grants to States to support systemic change and advocacy activities, particularly development and implementation of: (1) State, regional, and local laws and practices to improve access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services; (2) strategies to overcome barriers to funding, especially for underserved groups; and (3) strategies for enhancing the ability of individuals with disabilities and their family members and representatives to advocate successfully for access to and funding for assistive technology devices and services. Authorizes activities to increase access to and funding for assistive technology, as well as support for individual case management or representation, interagency coordination, and outreach. (Sec. 102) Requires the three-year development grants to support systemic change and advocacy activities in developing and implementing consumer-responsive statewide programs. Requires designation of a lead agency. (Sec. 103) Allows award of an additional extension grant to any State demonstrating significant progress in meeting the goals of the initial extension grant, as well as describing steps it will take to continue such program on a permanent basis and future funding options for this. (Sec. 104) Revises progress criteria and reporting requirements. Provides for change of protection and advocacy services provider. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Programs of National Significance - (Sec. 201) Directs the Secretary of Education to conduct a pilot project to develop and test a national classification system for assistive technology devices and services. (Sec. 202) Revises requirements for training and public awareness projects to include community-based organizations and rural areas. Requires applications to describe strategies to recruit and train persons to provide technology-related assistance to increase the diversity of such persons and the numbers of individuals with disabilities and from minority groups who are able to provide such assistance. (Sec. 203) Revises requirements for demonstration and innovation projects to provide for examination and evaluation of alternative direct loan programs. (Sec. 204) Authorizes appropriations for programs of national significance. (Sec. 205) Repeals provisions for: (1) a national information and program referral network; and (2) public awareness projects.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1993
Landmine Moratorium Extension Act of 1993 - Declares that it is U.S. policy to seek international agreements prohibiting the sale, transfer, or export, and terminating the manufacture, possession, and use, of antipersonnel landmines. Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the President should submit the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons to the Senate for ratification; and (2) the Administration should negotiate a modification of the Landmine Protocol under United Nations auspices or another international agreement to limit the sale, transfer, manufacture, and use of landmines. Prohibits for three years after this Act's enactment: (1) sales, financing, transfers, and the issuance of licenses under the Arms Export Control Act with respect to antipersonnel landmines; and (2) assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 with respect to the provision of such landmines.
United States · United States Congress · 22 July 1993
Dairy Equity Act - Amends the Agricultural Adjustment Act, reenacted with amendments by the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, to equalize the minimum fluid milk price adjustments for all marketing areas. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study the desirability and feasibility of fortifying fluid milk with additional nonfat solids, including consumer acceptance of such action.
United States · United States Congress · 21 July 1993
Disaster Credit Relief Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to cite circumstances under which a Federal banking regulatory agency may waive regulatory requirements for insured depository institutions located in federally declared major disaster areas. Limits the waivers to a three-year period. Requires such agency to give notice of the waiver in the Federal Register.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1993
Disability Rights in American Foreign Policy Act of 1993 - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act to promote recognition of the human rights of people with disabilities and the elimination of discrimination against such people. Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include within the Secretary of State's annual human rights report an examination of discrimination toward people with disabilities.
United States · United States Congress · 15 July 1993
Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize appropriations for: (1) the prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis; (2) research, demonstration projects, public information, and education concerning the prevention, control, and elimination of tuberculosis; and (3) research relating to tuberculosis through the National Institute on Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Amends the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize appropriations for a tuberculosis drug and device research program.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1993
Emergency Relief Fund Act of 1993 - Provides special disaster relief for qualifying 1993 agricultural producers, including retroactive crop insurance and prevented planting purchasing authority. Directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to establish an emergency relief fund to pay for such assistance.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1993
Designates August 1, 1993, as Helsinki Human Rights Day. Authorizes the President to reassert America's commitment to the Helsinki Accords and requests him to: (1) convey to all signatories of the Accords that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is a vital element of further progress in the ongoing Helsinki process; and (2) develop new proposals to advance the human rights objectives of such process to address the major problems that remain.
![Official portrait of Sen. Durenberger, Dave [R-MN]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/d000566_200.jpg)